Stock-handling machine



Aug. 24 1926. 1,596,914

E. E. WINKLEY swocx HANDLING MACHI'NE Filed May 26, 1920 9 sheets-$119 95 Aug. 24 1926 E. E. WINKLEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Q Ma Ari/A Aug. 24 1926.

E. E. WINKLEY STOCK HANDLING momma 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 26, 1920 E, E. wlNKLEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE .M V h m QQ I M m Tu Nwfi g m Q w M g m Q m E o w QR S g MM mmm & 1 m @5 Aug. 24 1926. I

Aug. 24 1926.

E. E. WlNK-LEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I lied?! 12 f ww Filed May 26, 1920 witness Aug. 24 1926. 1,596,914

' E. E. WINKLEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 aza gi 1: j;

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lnveni'm' ic/filess 4" CZZMQM D aw? a imam! 7 Aug. 24 1926.

E. E. Wl NKLEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE Filed May 26, 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventor W 5 witness Aug. 24 1926.

E. E. WINKLEY STOCK HANDLING MACHINE Filed May 26. 1920 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ina/222601 witness 5W (QM/UM :rss

Emissions 'E. wrnxnny; 'OFFLYNN',

OHINERYCORPORATION,'OF-'-PATERSON, New JERSEY, A CORPORATION-F NEW JERSEY. Y 1

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO UNITED SI-10E MA- sroomEAnDLnvG MAUI-ZINE.

iApplicationifiled May126,.1920. :Scrial No. 384,320. 7

This invention relatessto machines for jiloading blankszintoreceptacles. I

In the loading ofublanks, such as [heel lifts, into ,recepta'cles,;it .1138; heretoforeibeen necessary to IIDOVG :the ?blanks one at-a-time to the receotncle, due tothe diiiicu-lty in maintaining a number of the blanks ;in stacked formation during their transfer from the source of supply to v the receptacle in which they are toflhe-deposited.

It is an object-ofthis.inventionlco-overcome the 1 ditlicultyreferred to, hy prQViding improved means for loading-heel *litt s,-.or :similar blanks instacked t formetioninto-a storage receptacle;such-as a-nordinary tray or box. 1 v To this ench and in;:acc0rdancewith i-m portant -eatures oi": the invention, means is provided. for separating"section/after, .sec-

,tion of blanks from-a stackof hla nks moving from an suitahle sourceiof:s-u l ,=a-nd while separating the sections, naintaming them under pressure so that theLblanksmay be introduced intothereG-Qhtacle in a-manner to utilize all oi'--. the.storage space therein. Prele rably, too, and as I illustrated; iinproved means is provided 1 for flowering thez-recep- I step 'by stepsot-hat the blanks mayihe ol-ed layer above lever within: .the' recepcle. Further to facilitate its operetion in e operation oh the il-lusti ed machine, ai'terthe insertion of the last layerof blanks, e recepte "le is returned at; vonestep ito its ial position :wherethe loadechreceptack he removed :anda1 empty-one substied therefor. lo the handling ofhlanks ofdi-fierentsizes, I the f machine shown in the edr-awingsds provided with 7 means for adjusting the ,mechanism which lowers the ;receptacle step rhy step, the same adjusting.meanszalso being opera tive to :adjust the, means for'raising' the receptscleto in l position. V

Other objects of the mvent-ion ja-nd the tur'es construction hynvhich they tare .ined xviilhe forth. hereinaftertin 6011- ection with the zigoilowing .d'escription ofthe referred. embodiment oi"- the ,invention til- I ed in the accompanyingdrawings -in \vnich I xcscwr moch Also, :in order to provide ism for removing. the imperfectiblanks; Fig. 3:is aisectionalviewonthe sectional ,detail taken :on :the line 4 4 of Figr2; Fig.5 is an enlarged detail viewof one of the parts-shown: in Fig. 2; Fig.6'is-a top. plan view, on 1 an enlarged scale, of the ejector mechanism ;-Fig. 7-.isa sect-ionalview taken-on the line 77 of Fig.-..6; FiggiS is a perspective view of a portion 'Of;thG-;-jQCtOl" actuating mechanism; iFig. '91isa detail-sectional viewtaken onthe line '9 .-9j0f Fig.8; 'Fig. 10 is a viewin rear elevation ofithe loading mechanism, :portions act the ir being broken away, .to disclose :operat-ive parts otherwise obscured; Fig. 11 isa view, inside elevation and on a-n en'l-arged-scale, ot the loadingmechajnism,1l0oking fromileft to right in Fig-1'0; .Fig. 1-2 isanenlarged :seetional view taken r011 the dine 412-12 =f Fig. 10, showing the-mechanism; for {lowering and raising ;the receptacle :in which the blanks are loaded;-F-igs.18;and-.l4\are views inplan and :ifront elevation, respectively,*;of i themechanism Sl1OWV11llIl:-Elg.;125-]; ig. l5iis a ;perspective view of -a portion of the, loading vmechanism; Fig.16 is'aldetail view in side elevation, of the clutch, for connecting :the

1 f' loading .mechanism with," its-source oiepower -anddisconnecting it;therefrom; ig;il7 is a a perspective view of-a device ior'automst cally operating-the clutch; JandFigsJ-S. 19, :20 and 21 are perspective views of different portions of the v10adingimechanism.

In its illustrated --,embodiment 1 the, inventioncomprises, inggener-al, a stookeeuttgingzor idiniking imechanism- 24 (F g. -:1)'}ZEOIZ cutting lifts from {sheets or strips 1 of stock a chute 26-for receiving the lifts Leis-.they emerge from the cutting :mechanism'fqand maintaining themin stack 5' format-ion ac-lift =r-emoving mechanism 28 for removing the imperfect lifts ifromthe stack .in [the 'chute I and loading mechanism ,30 Avhichllis adapted to-sfeparate -sections.r'of :pe-r-fect, lifts fromthe leading portionof the stack and :load them in a receptacle -32-wh-ich--is:-assoiciated therewith.-

- The stock-cutting."mechanism; 24. is of the same general; construction and has the same III-3 States LettersPa-tent No. 1291 726, granted J anna ry .21, 1 919, to .W (1.:Baxter, and assigned to the=United Shoe Machinery Corporation. In the present machine, however, this mechanism 24 is so mounted as to receive and feed sheet material in a vertical plane instead of in a horizontal plane as in the machine of said patent, and the cutting instrumentalities of the present machine are arranged to operate upon the material thus fed so that the lifts cut therefrom will be forced through the die in a horizontal direction. In order to enable the invention to be better understood, certain portions of the stock-cutting mechanism 24 will be briefly described in this application. For a full and complete description of the parts of said mechanism, not fully described herein, reference may be had to said patent.

The operating parts of the stock-cutting mechanism 24 are carried by a head 34 (Fig. 1) that is supported upon a standard 36. A horizontal power shaft 88 is journaled in bearings on the standard 36 and continuously driven by a belt pulley 40. The shaft 38 is connected through intermeshing bevel gears 42 with a vertical main shaft 44. Projecting from the top of the vertical shaft 44 is an eccentric pin 46 which serves to reciprocate a pitman 48 that is connected to a plunger 50 having at its inner end a suitable holder in which is mounted a cutting-block 52. The plunger 50 reciprocates horizontally in a bearing 54 at the top of the head 34, moving the cutting-block 52 into and out of cooperative cutting relation with a die 56 which is removably secured to a suitable die-carrier, the latter being clamped to the head 34. The die- 56 is open at both ends so that the lifts cut thereby may progressively pass in stack formation through the die into the chute 26 which is connected with the die so that the die and the chute provide a continuous guideway for the lifts.

The material to be operated upon is fed to the cutting instrumentalities by means of a pair of transversely grooved feed rolls 60 and 62 which are secured upon vertical shafts and are yieldingly pressed toward each other and driven, as described in the patent above referred to, in order that they may cooperate to intermittently feed the material as it is introduced between them. As also described in said patent, means is provided whereby the length of feed may be adjusted in accordance with the size of the die employed so as to normally advance the stock at each feed movement a distance equal to the width of the die. A pair of cooperating cutting disks 64 and 66 are secured to the upper ends of the shafts which carry the feed rolls 60 and 62, respectively, for the purpose of separating the strip of material, from which the lifts are immediately to be died, from the sheet of stock as the cutting operation proceeds.

The chute 26, into which the lifts advance as they emerge from the die, is in the lifts from the chute.

open trough and is constructed of angle-iron strips 68 and 70 (Fig. 6) which extend in a substantially horizontal direction and are arranged with their webs disposed in horizontal and vertical planes, the horizontal webs overlapping to form the bottom of the chute and the vertical webs forming the opposite sides thereof. The horizontal webs of the strips 68 and 70 are secured together by means of bolts 72 which extend through transverse slots 74 in one of said webs, the slots permitting the strips 68 and 70 to be adjusted toward and from each other to accommodate lifts of different sizes. The chute 26 is supported at its receiving end in a bracket 7 6 (Figs. 1 and 2), rising from the standard 36, by means of a suitable clamping device 78 extending through a vertical slot 80 in said bracket which permits upward or down ward adjustment of the receiving end of the chute to bring it into registry with dies of different sizes. The opposite or delivery end of the chute 26 rests upon a stationary portion of the loading mechanism 30. The die 56 is so arranged that the lifts are cut with their breast edges uppermost and accordingly the lifts advance through the chute 26 with their curved rearedges resting upon the floor thereof, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 7. It is obvious, however, that by slightly modifying the machine, it could be arranged to out the lifts in any desired position, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

If imperfect lifts are cut they will of course be forced through the die and into the chute 26 with the perfect lifts. In order that perfect lifts only shall be loaded into the receptacle 32, the lift removing mechanism 28 is provided for removing the imperfect lifts from the chute 26 before the stack, which is being progressively built up in the chute, reaches the delivery end thereof and passes into the field of opera tions of the loading mechanism 30. To this end the lift-removing mechanism 28 comprises an ejector 84. (Figs. 6 and 7) a portion of which normally forms a section of the floor of the chute and is suddenly swung upwardly as the imperfect lifts are advanced into position above it, so as to eject said Since imperfect lifts can be out only at the ends of the sheets of stock and the sheets are all of the same form of an of a pair length, such lifts if present in the chute26,

tour. The ejector is carried by a horizontal rock-shaft 86 thatextends longitudinally in front of the cl1ut'e 26, and is journaled in bearing brackets 88 projecting from the adjacent side wall of the chute. The ejector is disposed in a plane transverse to the rockshaft 86 and the chute 26 and is adapted for vertical swinging movement through a narrow gap 90 in the chute. The upper portion of the ejector is providedwith flat edge faces 92 and 94 (Fig. 7) which are disposed at right angles to each other. lVhen the ejector is in its normal or lowermost position, these edge faces 92 and 94 form, respectively, sections of the floor and front side wall of the chute. In the construction shown, the width of the faces 92 and 94 of the ejectorare substantially equal to; the width of four lifts, so that four lifts will be removed from the chute at each operation of the ejector. This insures against failure of removing imperfect lifts due to slight inaccuracies of adjustment or irregularities of operation of the lift removing mechanism.

The chute 26 is supported on opposite sides of the gap 90 by means of thehorizontal shelf-like portion 96 (Fig. 6) of a bracket 98 which is secured t the two sections of the angle-ironstrip 7 0 and holds them in alinement. The bracket 98 is provided with a pair of horizontal arms lOOwhich extend forwardly on opposite sides of the ejector 84 and are apertured to permitthe rock-shaft 86 to extend loosely therethrouglr. In front of the roclcshaft 86 the arms 100 are 'reenforced by a connecting web 102. The two sections of the angle-iron strip 68, onopposite sides of the gap 90 are joined together in aline'ment, with each other by means of a yokeeshaped connecting member 104.

The ejector 84 is swung upwardly by means of an actuator 106 (Figs. 2, 7 and 8). The actuator 106'comprises an arm projecting from a sleeve 108 which is mounted with provision for longitudinal sliding movement on a continuously rotating horizontal shaft 110 that is journaled inthe bearing brackets 88 beneath the rock-shaft 1 86. The actuator sleeve 108 is connected to rotate with'the shaft 110 by means of a coupling member112which is fixed tothe shaft 110 ad acent the actuator sleeve. The cou-.

pling member 112 comprises a sleeve having a longitudinal projection 114 that isformed by cutting away the material at one'side of the axial plane of the sleeve adjacent one end-thereof. The actuator sleeve 108 is pro vided with a similar projection 115. 'As shown clearly-in Fig. 8, the actuator, sleeve -to'r 84 assaid'shaft rotates. V actuator sleeve 108 is acted upon by spring 108 and the coupling member 112 are assem bled on the shaft 110 with their respective projections 114 and 115 overlapping. This construct-ion permits the sleeve 108 to be rotatedwith the shaft 110 and also to be capable of being shifted longitudinally on the shaft. The actuator arm 106 carries at its free end aroll 116 which normally travels idly at one side of the ejector 84 as the shaft 110 rotates. At predetern'iined intervals, however, the roll ,116 is caused, by the longitudinal shifting of the actuator sleeve 108 on the shaft 110 to cooperatively engage a cam lug 118 (Fig. 7) rearwardly projecting-from the ejector so as to suddenly lift the ejector for the purpose of removing from the chute such lifts as may be located above the face 92.

The shaft 110 is continuously driven during the operation of the machine through intermeshing bevel gears 122 and 124, (Figs. 2

and 6) the former being secured to the shaft 110, and the latter to a transverse horizontal shaft 126 which is journaled in extensions of the bearing bracket 88. In order to permit vertical adjustment of thereceiving end of the chute 26 in accordance with the size of the die employed in the cutting mechanism the transverse shaft 126 is driven from the power shaft 88 by means of two sprocket chains 128 and 1230 (Figs. 2 and 3), The sprocket chain 128 passes over a sprocket wheel 132 which is secured t the transverse shaft 126 and .over a sprocket wheel 134 (Fig. 3), the latter being fast on one endv of a shaft 136 that is journaled in a sleeve 138 integrally formed at one side of a sprocket wheel casing 140. The casing 140 is connected by means of two tubes 142, whichenclose the parallelstretchesof the chain 128, with a casing 144 which encloses the sprocket wheel 132 and is mounted to swing vertically on the shaft 126. The other sprocket chain 130 passes over a sprocket wheel 146 that is secured tocthe other end of the shaft 136, adjacent the outer end of the sleeve 138, and overanother sprocket wheel 148 which is fixed on shaft 38 and enclosed in a sprocket wheel casing 150. The

casing150 is vsupported by means of a pair naled on the sleeve 138 of the casing 140.

lVith this-arrangement the transverse shaft 126 is permitted to move vertically with respect to the power shaft 128 as the elevation of the chute is adjusted, without interrupting the dr' ing connections between said shafts.

Normally the ejector actuator'106 is p0sitioned on the shaft so that theroll 116 will not engage the cam lugr'*118 ofthe ejec- To this endthe 158(1 9) which tends to move the sleeve 108 away from the coupling member 112. The spring-158 is coiled around the shaft O-between opposed end faces 160 and 162 on the actuator sleeve 108 and coupling member 112 respectively see also 8), the projections 111 and 115 of said members having their inner faces cut away to pro vide space for the spring. Sliding movement of the actuator sleeve 108, under the influence of the spring 158, is normally limited by the engagement of astop shoulder 161 on the projection 115 of the actuator sleeve with the side of a latch 166, the latter being pivoted on a pin 168 that is secured in h s 170 projecting laterally from the projection 11% of the coupling member 112. A light coiled spring 172 presses the latch 166 inwardly against a face 17 1 on the projection 115, adjacent the shoulder 1641, thus holding the side of-thelatch 166 in engagement with said shoulder.

In order that actuator 106 may become operative to actuate tne ejector, the roll 116 that is carried by the actuator must be brought into the vertical plane of the cam lug 118 on the ejector. Tothis end means is provided for shifting the sleeve 108, which carries the actuator arm 106, toward the coupling member 112, a ainst the action of the spring 158. The means for shifting the sleeve 108 com arises a cam 178 and a shift-arm 180 (Figs. 2, land 5). The cam 178 consists of a sleeve that is secured to the shaft 110 adjacent the bracket 88 and is provided with a cam face at the end remote from the bracket. The shift-arm 180 projects downwardly from a sleeve which is mounted for oscillatory and sliding movements on the rock-shaft 86 and is adapted to engage the outer side of an annular flange 1841 that is formed at one end of the sleeve 108. The shift-arm 180 is norm-ally maintained in a predetermined angular relation with respect to'the shaft 110 by an upward extension 186 of said arm which is forked to embrace a horizontal guide-rod 188. The guide rod 188 is supported at its opposite ends in a pair of brackets 190 (Fig. which are secured to the rock-shaft 86,v and the guide-rod is embraced by a forked portion 180 of the ejector 8 1-. In order that the shiftarm 180 may be moved laterally on the rockshaft 86 in a direction to slide the ejector actuator 106 on the shaft 11.0, a finger 192 4c) is pivoted by means of a stud 19 1 to one sine of the arm 180 and carries at its lower end a cam roll 196 which is adapted to be engaged by the end face of the can 178. To this end a spring 198 surrounds the stud 1941' and tends to swing the cam roll 196 forwardly toward the shaft 110 and to hold it in operative position ad acent the face of the cam 178. Anupwardly extending lug 200 on the linger 192 is adapted to engage stop lug 202 on the shift-arm 180 to-limit the movement of the linger-192/, under the influence of the spring 198, and prevent the flat end face of the. cam roll 196 from-being pressed against the shaft 110.

Normally the shift-arm 180 is held by means of coiled spring 20 1 (Figs. 2 and 6) in such a' longitudinal position on the rock-shaft 86 that the flat end face of the cam roll 196'engages the cylindrical surface of the cam 178 so that'the'shift-arm is un affectedby the rotation of the cam. Provision is made, however, for automatically sliding the shift-arm on the roclr-shaft 86, against the tension of the spring 204, sufficiently to permit the finger 192 to be swung by its spring 198" intoposition to be engaged by the face of the earn 178. To this end the guide-rod 188 is adapted for longitudinal sliding movement in the supporting brackets 190 and a downwardl extending linger 206 (Figs. 2 and 6), is secured to said rod and forked at its lower end to straddle the rock-shaft 86, between the shift-arm and the adjacent bracket 190. The finger 206 is moved laterally, in a direction to slide the shift=arm against the tension of the spring 204-, by means of a device which measuresthe advance of-the-stack in the chute 26 after each actuation of the ejector, and when the stack has moved a predetermined distance,

operates to slide the guide-rod 188 in the direction of movement of the stack.

l he device for measuring the advance of the stack in the chute 26 comprises a measuring finger 208, (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) which projects laterally from a sleeve 210 that is free to-slide on the guide-rod; The measuring finger 208 consists of a slender, irregularly shaped member curving upwardly. rearwardly from the sleeve 210 and having a flat extremity which is adapted to enter the space in the stack left by the removal of" lifts by the preceding operation of the ejector. A l'ug'212projecting from the under side of the sleeve 210 is forked at its lower extremity to straddle the roclnsh'aft 86 and serves to determine the angular position of the measuring finger with respect to t 167 guide-rod. Norinall as shown in Fig. 7, the measuring finger 208 extends transversely across the chute 26, in the path of the advancing lifts.

its the stack continues to advance in the chute 26, after the removal of a group of lifts by the ejector, the measuring finger 208 is advanced by the lifts behind it, the sleeve 210 sliding on the guide-rod 188. Just before the stack which is building up between the measuring finger anc. the gap in the chute has increased suiiici'ently to contain the required number of lifts, the sleeve 210 engages a splitcollar 21 1 (Figs. 2 and 6) which is clamped by'ineans of a bolt 216 tothe guide-rod 188. Continued sliding movement of thesleeve 210 causes the guide-rod 188 to slide longitudinally in the bracket 190. The slidingmovement of the guide-rod 188 will be transmitted to the shift-arm 180 by means of the forked finger 206 which is secured to said rod and'straddles the rock-shaft adjacent the shift-arm. As the lateral movement of the shift-arm 180 moves the cam roll 196 beyond the face of the cam 178, the spring 198 forces the finger 192 forwardly so that the roll 196 is engaged by the face of thecam. Rotation of the cam 17 8 then moves the shift-arm 180 into contact with the adjacent side'of the annular flange, 184 at the end of the actuator sleeve 108, thus shifting the roll 116 into the vertical plane of the cam lug 118 .on the ejector.

The actuator 106 is temporarily locked in operative position by means of the latch 166' which snaps behind a shoulder 220 on the actuator sleeve 108 as shown in Fig. 8. As the roll 116 on the actuator 106 strikes the cam lug 118, the ejector 84 is suddenly raised and the lifts, which are located directly above it in the chute 26, are ejected from the chute and fall to one side thereof where theymay be collected in a suitable receptacle.

As the shaft is rocked to raise the ejector, the guide-rod 188 which is mounted in the brackets 190, is swung laterally about the axis of the rock-shaft, so that the measuring finger 208 is raised in unison with the ejector. The measuring finger moves upwardly until clear of the stack, whereupon it is restored to its normal longitudinal position with respect to the guide-rod 188 and into alinement with the ejector 84, by means of a weight 224 (Fig. 2) which is connected with the sleeve 210 by means of a cord 226 that passes over a pulley 228 on the bracket 88. As the measuring finger, after being withdrawn from the stack, moves toward the ejector under the influence of the weight 224, the guide-rod 188 is returned to its normal position, with the finger 206 in engagement with the adjacent bracket 190, by-means of a spring 230, one end of which is secured to the guide-rod and the opposite end to the bracket 190.

The movement of the guide-rod 188, as it swings forwardly about the axis of the shaft 86, is communicated to the shift-arm 180 through the upward extension 186 of the latter, the shift-arm being swung rearwardly and the cam roll 196 withdrawn from engagement with the face of cam 178. The spring 204 then retracts the shift-arm, to ward the right in Fig. 2, into normal position on the rock-shaft, the movement of the shift-arm being limited by means of the finger 206.

After the actuator roll 116 reaches the point of the cam lug 118 the ejector de seends by gravity and the measuring bracket 96 so that follows it into the space once occupied by the ejected lifts. The return of-the e ector turns the rock-shaft 86 in a counter clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 7, thus s'winging.

radial movement until restored to normal position. v

The actuator 106 is restored to its nor mal longitudinal position'on the shaft 110 before the ejector is returned to its'normal position. For this purpose the latch 166 is provided with-a tail 234 which is adapted to be engaged by the under side of the the latch is swung outwardly beyond the shoulder 220, thus permitting the spring 158 to shift the actuator sleeve 108 until the roll 116 is removed from the vertical plane of the cam lug on the ejector. J I

In order to insure that the ejector will be returned to normal position'with the face'92 flush with the upper surface of the floor of the chute so as to offer no obstruction to the advance of the lifts through the chute, the ejector is provided with a curved depending extension 236 having at its free end a lateral offset which projects into the path of movement of the actuator roll 116 after the actuator has been restored to normal position on the shaft 110; If the ejector has not been completely returned by gravity by the time the actuator roll 116 reaches the lug 238 the roll will engage the lug and positively return the ejector and the measuring finger totheir normal positions.

It will be seen thatv by measuring the length of the section of the stack which is permitted, to advance 'beyond the ejector between successive operations of the latter, the ejector is caused to remove lifts at regular intervals throughout the stack. The length of said sections is determined by the location of the collar 214 on the guide-rod 188, and the collar is adjusted to render the ejector actuator operative when said section has increased in length sufficiently to contain the number of lifts of stock being operated upon are. capable-of producing. If the size of the die employed in the cutting mechanism is materially changed, of course a different number of lifts will be cut from the strips and the spacing of the intervals separating the imperfect lifts in the stack will of course varv accordingly. By loosening the bolt 216 and adjusting the collar 214 on. the guide-rod 188, however, the space through which the measuring finger is permitted to fore the actuator 106 is rendered may be varied.

p The lifts removed. by the successive operations the ejector, and which terse.

move beoperative which the strips,

mentioned may be collected in a suitable receptacle will, of course, include some perfect lifts. These perfect lifts may be separated from the others by a sorting process and saved. Inasmuch as the quantity of lifts which will require assorting is very small in comparison with the entire quantity of lifts produced, the time required for the sorting process will be proportionally less 10 than that which would be required for sorting all the lifts. 7 It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the removal by the ejector, of more than a single lift, since by accurately adjusting the lift removing mechanism, practical results might be obtained with an ejector so constructed thatonly as many lifts will be removed at each ejecting operation as are capable of being produced between 29 the groups of perfect lifts.

WVhile the ejector mechanism is described in detail in the foregoing parts of the specification, it is not claimed herein but is made the subject-matter of a divisional application upon which Letters Patent No. 1,513,779 was granted Nov. 4:, 1924.

As the stack of lifts reaches the field of operations of the loading mechanism it still continues to advance by reason of the successive impulses imparted to it by the reciprocating cutting-block. After leaving the chute 26, the stack advances successively across two stationary platforms 2% and 24:6 and then across a receiver or table 24-8, which is normally held stationary to receive the lifts, but is adapted to move toward the receptacle 32, for the purpose of transferring the lifts thereto. The loading mechanism does not begin to operate under power until the leading end of the stack approaches the farther end of the receiving and transferring table 248. The cycle of operations of the loading mechanism is initiated at this time by means of a movement imparted to the trip'lever 298 by the stack in a manner hereinafter described.

The portion of the stack in the chute 26 which has been acted upon by the lift removing mechanism and from which the imperfect lifts have been removed continues to advance slowly through the chute as the newly cut lifts accumulate at the receiving end thereof. As the lifts emerge from the delivery end of thechute 26, they pass into the field of operations of the loading mechanism 30 by means of which they are loaded into suitable receptacles such as the receptacle 32. The loading mechanism 30 separates from the leading end of the stack suc 69 cessive sections, each of which is substantially equal in length to the length of the space within. the receptacle, advances each section of the stack, in turn,'in a lengthwise direction until it is located exactly opposite the vertically disposed open top of the receptacle, and transfers the sections laterally to the receptacle, depositing them therein in superimposed relation, in contact with the vertically disposed'bottom wall, until a com.-

plete layer of stacked lifts has been paclred into the receptacle. Eaehsuccessive section of the stack is introduced laterally into the receptacle by a movement in the same horizontal plane and in order that the sections may be superimposed upon receptacle is initially supported in such' a position that the first section will be deposited upon the lower horizontal side thereof, and the receptacle is lowered a distance equal to the vertical dimension of the sec-* tions after each section has been deposited therein. After the receptacle has been filled, the receptacle and its support are automatically raised to their initial elevations before he receptacle is ready to be removed. In this way the support will be positioned to support an empty receptacle which is to replace the loaded one, at the proper elevation or the reception of the first section of stacked lifts to be deposited therein;

The loading mechanism 30 comprises, in general, a frame 2&2 (Figs. 10 and 11) upon which the various parts and operating instrumentalities are mounted; two stationary feed platforms 2% and 2% acrosswhich the lifts successively advance after leaving the chute 26, the platform casts-n supported at a slightly lower elevation than'the platform 244:; an elongated transfer table'or shelf 2 18 (Figs. 11, 19 and 20), normally positioned to receive the stacrred lifts as they advance beyond the stationary platform 246; a separating device 250, operating after a section of the stack of predetermined length each other, the

has been advanced beyond the platform to depress the lifts immediately in advance of said platform into contact with the platform 246, thus separating said section from the rest of the stack; a horizontally reciprocating pusher 252 adapted to engage the face of the rearmost lift in the separated section of the slowly advancing stack and space said section ahead of the succeeding lifts, advancing it until it is resting throughout entire length on the receiver or transfer table 248;, a horizontal reciprocating transfer bar which engages the rear side of the section on the table 248 and is advanced toward the receptacle, in unison with the table to transfer said section laterally to the receptacle 32; a horizontal guide-bar 256 11 and 20) which cooperates with the transfer bar a. to guide the stack laterally as it advances in a lengthwise direction across the table 248, and which is subsequently lifted to permit the lateral transfer of said stack to'the receptacle 32; and means including a vertically movable platform 258 (Fig. 11) for sup porting and positioning the receptacle 32.

The frame 2412 is substantially rectangular in form,,comprising a pair of standards 260 (Figs. 10 and 11) which constitute the opposite ends of the frame, and suitable longitudinal. frame members 262 extending horizontally at the front and rear of the operating mechanism and rigidly connecting the standards 260. The various operating parts of the loading mechanism are actuated by a plurality of cams which are secured to a cam shaft 264 which extends horizontally between the standards 260 and is suitably journaled in hearings in the standards and in an intermediate bearing bracket 266. The power for actuating the cam-shaft 264 is derived from a driving pulley 268 through a clutch 2170 which is'operableautomatically at the proper time. The pulley 268 is secured to a sleeve 272 which surrounds the cam-shaft 264 and is continuously rotated. The clutch 270 is of the well known Horton type and is adapted to impart a single revolution to the cam-shaft and automatically bring the shaft to rest.

The clutch 270 comprises an outer member 274 (Fig. 16) which is secured to the sleeve 272, so that it rotates constantly, 2111C an inner member 276.which is secured to the cam-shaft 264 and normally remains stationary. The inner clutch member is pro- 'vided with the usual inclined recesses in which spring pressed friction rollers 278 are seated. These rollers are controlled by a controller comprising a disk 280 (Fig. 10) which is loosely mounted on the camshaft and provided with a laterally extending sleeve 282 that is interposed between the outer and inner clutch members and is slotted to receive. the friction rollers. A spring 284 connects the inner clutch member with the controller disk 280 and tends to rotate the latter in a direction to cause the friction rollers to act. The clutch is normally held out of operation, however, the controller sleeve 282 being provided for this purpose with a lug 286 which is adapted to i be engaged by the hooked end of a detent arm 288 (see also F ig. 17) which is pivoted on a stud 290 projecting from the adjacent standard 260. The detent-arm 288 is urged upwardly by means of a spring 292 and is normally maintained in operative position, with its hooked end engaging the lug 286 on the controller sleeve. by means of an arm 294 that is integral with the detent-arm and is engaged by a shoulder 296 at the lower extremity of a trip-lever 298 the latter being fulcrumcd on a stud 300 projecting from one of the longitudinal frame members 262.

hen the trip-lever is disengaged from the.

arm 294 the spring 292 withdraws the detentarm from in front of the lug 286 and the clutch. becomes operative to rotate the cam-shaft 264. The detent-arm 288 is automatieally returned into position to disengage the clutch members so as to disconnect ard.

the cam-shaft from the sleeve 2. 2 and arrest the rotation of the shaft after it has completed a single revolution,by means of an eccentric flange 302 which projects laterally from the marginal portion of the controller disk 280, as shown in F 16,,and is adapted to engage a cam-roll 804 on the. detent-arm 288. Just before the completion of a single revolution of the cam-shaft the flange 302 returns the detent-arm 288 to normal position, with its hooked end in the path of the lug 286, in which position it is maintained by the engagement of the detent lever 298 with the arm 294. When the lug 286 engages the hooked end of the detent arm, the

rotation of the controller disk 280 is arrcsted and the clutch members are disengaged. Inasmuch as the controller disk 280 is connected, through the spring 284 and the inner clutch member, with the cam-shaft, the latter is also'brought to rest, the shock of the sudden stopping of the shaft being absorbed by said spring. 7

The stationary platform'244, which receives the stacked lifts as they leave the chute 26, consists of a rectangular piece of sheet material which'is supported in a horizontal plane extending lengthwise of the stack. The edge of the platform 244, at the front side of the stack is rigidly secured to an arm projecting laterally from a bracket 308 which rises from the left hand standard 260, while the edge of the platform at the rear side of the stack is secured to the side of a bracket 310 rising from the same stand- The delivery endof the chute 26 is supported by the platform 244, the angleiron strip 70, which constit-utes the front side of the chute, being suitably secured to said platform and the angle iron strip 68, forming the rear side of the chute, being unsecured to the platform in order that it may be readily adjusted toward and from the strip to vary the width of the chute. The floor of the chute terminates at or slightly in advance of the end of the platform which is nearer the lift-removing mechanism. permitting the lifts to be discharged from the chute upon said platform. The sides of the chute, however, extend beyond the platform 244 as far as the delivery end of the plat form 246, for the purpose of guiding the stack as it advances across both of said platforms.

After leaving the platform 244, the lifts advance across the platform 246 and across the receiving table 248 until a section of the stack of the proper length to be loaded into the receptacle has been advanced beyond the forward edge of the platform At that time the stack has not reached the farther end of the table 248. It is then necessary to space the measured section of the stack ahead 0 the slowly following section in. order that the table 248 and transfer bar rave time to load said measured la erally into the receptacle 32 and 0 normal position before the leading the following stack has advanced into the held of operation of said transfer rs. The required spacing operation d by the pusher and in order be measured section may be 1e pusher, the platforn 2&6 nged to support the lifts at a some- =cr elevation than the platform e nary platform 246 is rectangu- ,rm and is supported in at vance of form a id at slightly lower As shown arrangement of the nd "i6 is such that the deihe 'i'ormer slightly overlaps f the latter and the push- 1 normally retracted between the overlapping ends of the platform. With the a forum thus arranged section of the stack 1: proper length to be loaded into the receptacle may be measured by the ad vance of the stack beyond the front edge of the platform 244: and the rearmost lifts of said section will be permitted to extend below the portion of the stacir on the platform 242i and into the path of the pusher i rter who leaving the stationary platform 2&6, the lifts pass upon the table 2 18, which is norn'ially held stationary in alinement with the platZorm24-6, in order to receive the lifts. The table comprises an elongated recvngular strip (Figs. 19 and 20) of sheet material which supports the lifts and which projects forwardly from a supporting earriage 312. tang'ular form and is supported with provision for straight line reciprocatingmovement in a horizonal plane for the purpose of transferring the lifts supported thereby to the receptacle 3 best shown in Fig. 19, the means for supporting the carriage 312 comprises a plurality of floating arms 314 which are severally pivoted at their upper ends to the ear riage adjacent its four corners. Each arm 314iis pivotally connerted at its lower end to one of a plurality of slide-blocks 316, which are adapted for vertical sliding movement in guideways 318 (Figs. 10 and 11) that are former in a pair of transverse frame members 320 extending between the upper longitudinal frame members 262 at the front and rear of the loading mechanism. The weight of the table 2&8 and carriage 312 is sustained by means of four arms 322 which are severally pivotally connected at their lower ends to the floating arms 314:, atpoints midway between the ends of the latter. At their upper ends the supporting arms 322, which a 'i'iineeted with ti rearward pair of heating as are pive 1;; mounted The carriage 312 is also of ree-' in upward extensions of the transverse frame members 320. The upper ends of the supporting arms 322, which are connected with the forward pair of floating arms 314, are

secured to a rock-shaft 32 that is journaled s y means of the ram 336 and the above nnections between the cam and (.6 10) tha secured to the cam-shaft ated. as also rigidlv supported at all times in a horizontal pr 4 I 7 As the starch of lifts slowly advances, it is guided laterally 'by means of the transfer which located at therear side of the sch, and by the guide-bar 256, which lo 'ated at the front side of the stack. The transfer-bar and the guide-bar 256 constitute vertically disposed guiding walls for the opposite sides of the stack which are normally in alinement with the corresponding side walls of the chute 26 and which extend throughoutthe entire length of the table 248. inasmuch as the transferbar 254iis to be moved horizontally in unison with the table 2&8 for the purpose of transferring the stack laterally to the receptacle 32, and the guide-bar 256 must be raised to permit the stack to pass beneath it, taeso memberg are supported with pro vision for such movements, respectively, in a manner which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the description of their operation.

During the advance of the stack across the table 248, the lift at the leading end of the stack is supported in an upright position by means of a traveling end-support 342 (Figs. 11, 15 and 20). The end-support 312 comprises a flat plate which is adapted to engage the face of the endmost lift ,f the stack and which advances with the stack across the table 2&8. For this purpose the end-support 3 12 is adjustably secured to a finger 3&4 which projects laterally from a carriage 346 15). The carriage 346 is adapted to slide on a horizontal guide- .rod 3&8, one end of which is supported in the bracket 310, while the other end tl 'IfGOf supported in corresponding bra? he table 213 is recipr0 whi::h rides in a groove in a cam be explained later, and it is J- aa advance of the stack across the 342 may be yieldingly held against the lead= mg end of the stack as the latter advances across the table 248, the carriage 346 is con-- nected by means of a cord 352 with a weight 354, the cord passing over a pulley on the bracket 310' and the weight tending to move the end-support in a direction opposite to that in which the stack advances.

11s the leading end of the slowly adv-anc ing stack nears the farther edge of the table 248 it engages an abutment 360 (Figs. 10 and 17) which is carried by the trip-lever 298 which controls the operation of the clutch270. As best shown in Fig. 17, the abutment 360 comprises a thin strip which extends transversely across the table 248 and is supported so as to present its face to the advancing stack. For this purpose the opposite ends of the abutment 360 are bent at thereof. The pivot rod 368 projects rearwardly from the upper end of the trip-lever,

and overlies the table A spring 370, which is coiled around the pivot rod 368, tends to depress the arms 366 so that the abutment 36 will slide in contact with the top of the table as it is displaced by the advancing stack. The abutm nt extensions 862 are adapted to engage the table on tl e opposite side of the pivot rod 364 from the central portion of the abutment, so that the lift engaging face of the abutment will be maintained at all times perpendicular to the top surface of the table.

its the aoutment 360 is displaced by the table 248, the trip-lever 298 is swung aboutits fulcrum stud 300, against the action of spring372, one end of which is attached to the trip-lever and the opposite end to a fixed partlof the frame. The trip-lever is normally maintained, by means of a spring 372, with the abutment 360 in position shown in Fig. 10

' and with the lower extremity of the triplever holding the detent arm 288 depressed so that the clutch'270 is inoperative and the cam-shaft264 at rest. Upon a-slight displacement of the abutment 360 by the stack, the shoulder 296 on the trip-lever is with right angles to form laterally offset extendrawn from the arm 294 that is integral with the detent arm 288 and the latter is raised by the spring 292 so that its hooked end is withdrawn from in front of the lug 286 on the clutch controller 280. The clutch 270 then becomes operative and the camshaft 264 starts to rotate, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11, thus starting the cycle operations of the loading mechanism. This occurs when the portion of the stack which platform 244 has become of sufiicient length to be transferred to the receptacle 32.

When the loading mechanism begins to operate under power a continuous stack of has been fed beyond the stationary lifts extends from the chute 26 across the stationary platforms 244 and 246 and across the table 248 as far as the abutment 360 which has been displaced only a slight amount beyond the position in which it appears in F 10. Inasmuch as the stack was advanced across the table 248 against the pullof the weight 354 acting through the traveling end support 342 as'above described. the lifts are now held closely together throughout the entire length of the stack and where the stack passes from the leading end of the stationary platform 244 to the lower level of the stationary platform 246, the stack gradually adjusts itself to the difference in elevation between the two stationary platforms. In other words, as the lifts leave the platform 244, they do not drop immediately so that their lower edges come in contact with the top of the platform 246, but the drop occurs gradually as the frictional resistance tending to prevent relative movement of the lifts is slowly overcome by gravity. As a result the upper and lower sides of the stack are curved substantially as shown in Fig. 10, leaving a space between the platform 246 and the lower edges of the lifts immediately in advance of the platform 244. a

It is now necessary to depress the lifts which are immediately in advance of the platfo an 244, in order that the rearmost of said lifts may be engaged by the pusher and the measured portion of the stack spaced ahead of the following portion until the former rests throughout its entire length ontable 248. The means for depressing these lifts and thus separating from the stack a section of the proper length to be loaded in{ to the receptacle 32,- plate 250.

The separator plate 256 (Figs. 10, 11 and 18) consists of two flat rectangular portions 3'74 and 876 which are offset in parallel planes on opposite sides of a relatively narrow perpendicularly disposed connecting portion 278. A shown in Fig. 10, the separatorplatc is arranged with the portions comprises the separator 37,4 and S76 disposed in horizontal planes extending transversely above the adjacent portions of the stationary platforms 24A and 2&6, respectively. The separator plate is adapted to be depressed to force the lifts in'nnediately in advance of the platform 2&4; downwardly toward the platforn'i 2&6, hus levelling the curved section of the stack and effecting the separation of the portion which is to be transfer ed to receptacle 32 from the rest of the n, The difference in elevation between the portions 3% ant 876 of the arator plate is slightly less than the difference in elevation between the two stationary platforms are and 2&6. Accordingly, when th separator plate is depressed, the higher portion 374 will engage the top edges or the lifts on the platform 244 and arrest the downward movement of the separator plate. Thus, while the lifts that are engaged by the lower portion 376 will be depressed into the path of the pusher 252, they will not be pressed into actual contact with the platform 246, but will be free to be advanced by the pusher. VJhen the separated section of the stack is advanced by the pusher 252, the connecting portion 378 of the separator plate, which is vertically disposed in front of t is foremost lift on the platform 24A, serves as an end-support to prevent said lift and those behind it from tipping forwardly.

During the time that the pusher 252 is in its advanced position the leading portion of the slowly advancing main stack is supported by an auxiliary platform 380, which is normally located beneath the stationary platform 24A, as shown in dotted lines in 10, which advances with the pusher 252 and forms a temporary extension of the stationary platform. During the advance of the main stack across the auxiliary platform 380 the separator plate is held depressed and advances with the stack to support the leading end thereof, while the stack is resting upon the platform 380.

In order that the separator plate 250 may be depressed and may also be moved bodily with the advancing stack, the plate is mounted with provision for vertical swinging and horizontal sliding movements. To this end the separator plate, as best shown in Fig. 18, is secured to the horizontal cross-bar of an inverted T-sliaped carrier 382, the vertical arm of which is pivoted at its upper end to the forward extremity of a supporting arm 38%. At its opposite end the arm 38% is loosely mounted for swinging and lateral sliding movements upon a rock-shaft 386 which is journaled at one end in the bracket 310 and at its opposite end in a bracket 38S rising from a fixed portion of the frame. In order that the separator plate may be maintained with the lift engaging portion 37d and 376 horizontal, as the plate moves downwardly, a guiding arm 890 is pivoted at one to the separator plate carrier 382 by meansof a stud that is arranged in vertical with the pivotal connection be- 384- and said caralinement tween the supporting arm riage. The opposite end of the guiding arm 390 is secured to a stud-shaft 392 which is disposed in vertical alinement with the roclrshaft 386 and is mounted to turn in a pair of ears 39d, rising from an elongated carriage 396. The carriage 396 is adapted, by means of a pair of bearing sleeves 898 at its opposite ends, to slide on a horizontal rod lOO which extends longitudinally above the plane of the transfer table 2&8 and is supported at its opposite ends in the brackets 310 and 350 10). The bearing sleeves 398 are widely separated to facilitate the sliding of the carriage on the rod iOO and the rock-shaft 386 as the separator plate is advanced with the stack. The carriage 396 is prevented from turning on the rod L00 by means of upward extensions of the ears 39 lhrough which the rock-shaft 386 extends on opposite sides of the arm 384a The separator plate 250 is depressed and raised by means comprising an actuating rod 402 which xtends loosely 'hrough the supporting arm 38% and is secured at its opposite ends in a pair of arms iO il which are pinned to the rock-shaft 386, one of said adjacent each of the brackets 310 and The arm etOel, adjacent the bracket 310, provided with a rearward extension 406 which is pivotally connected by a rod s08 with the rear end of a cam lever L10 10 and 11) that is fulcrumed on a stud r12 projecting outwardly from the adjacent standard 260. At its forward end the cam lever s10 carries the cam roll diet which rides upon the periphery of an edge cam 416 that is secured to the cam-shaft 264. The separater plate is urged downwardly by means of a spring 418 (Fig. 18) which is coiled around a portion of the stud-shaft 392 which projects beyond the outer side of one of the supporting ears 394 of the carriage 396, one end of the spring being secured to said ear 39d and the opposite end to a collar jl2ll which is fixed to the stud-shaft. The spring are serves also to hold the cam-roll il-l against its cam. Immediately afterthe start of each cycle of operations the cam llG per mits the spring 18 to depress the separator plate against the top edges of the lifts be neath it. 7

is soon as the separator plate has operated to separate the section of the stack which is in advance of the platform 2% from the rest of the stack by depressing the lifts which are immediately in advance of the forward edge of said platform, the pusher 252 is actuated to space said portion 0' the stack away from the following section and to advance the rear end of the separated section upon the transfer table 248. The pusher 252, as shown in Fig. 21, comprises a reciprocating member consisting of a T- shaped upper portion 424 which is disposed in a horizontal plane and is adapted to slide across the top face of the platform 246, and alower portion 426 which is adapted to slide beneath the said platform. The cross arm of the T-shaped upper portion of the pusher which is adapted to engage the stack is disclosed at the advancing end of the pusher and extends transversely across. the platform 246. The longitudinal arm of the T- shaped portion is connected at the end remote from the cross arm with the lower portion the latter extending parallel with said longitudinal arm and terminating in a shoe 428 which is adapted to slide in a longi tudinal. guideway 430 (Fig. 11) onthe under side of the platform 246.

.As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the pusher 252 is actuated by means comprising a link 432 which is pivoted at its upper end to the rear extremity of the lower portion of the pusher and at its lower end to a shorter link 434, the latter being in turn pivoted to a bracket on the standard 260. At a point near the middle of the link 482 the latter is pivoted to the downwardly extending arm of a bell-crank lever 436 which is fulcrumed at one side of the bracket 310. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 436 is connected by means of a universal joint with the upper end of a rod 438. The lower end of the rod 438 is connected by a universal joint to one arm of a bell-crank lever 440 which is fulcrumed on'the s'tud412. The other arm of thebell-cranklever 440 carries a cam roll v 442 which rides on the periphery of an edge cam 444 which is secured to the cam shaft 264 alongside of the cam 416. The cam 444 operates to actuate the pusher 252, immedi-,

ately after the downward movement of the separator plate, to advance-the rear endof' the separated section of the stack upon the transfer table 248. By means of the operative connections above described, the pusher 252 is constrained to reciprocate in-a horizontal path I The auxiliary platform 380 which sup ports the foremost lifts of the main portion of the stack while the pusher 252. is in its advanced position comprises a. thin rectain gular strip of such size that it may normally be retracted beneath the platform 244. The platform 380 rests upon and is rigidly secured to the T-shaped upper portion 424 of he pusher 252 so that it may reciprocate therewith.

The pusher 252 remains in its advanced position to serveas an end-support for the rearmost lifts on the table 248 until the table and the transfer bar 254 have advanced the stack laterally so that it ispartially, at least, within the r ceptacle 32 and the enclmost lifts aresupportedby the end wallsrof the latter. The cam 444 thenpermits the return of the pusher 252 to its normalretracted position through the operation of a spring 445 (Figs. 1 and 10) and the cam 416 permits the spring 418 to lower the separator plate. A spring 448 which surrounds the red 400 between the separator carriage and a suitable abutment on the'rod, then operates to return the separator. plate to its normal position. I

After the separated section of the stack has been advanced by the pusher 252 it is positioned on the receiving and transferring table 248 opposite the receptacle 32 and ready to be laterally transferred thereto. The abutment 860 has been pushed practically to the end of the table so that. the upper end of the trip-lever 298 no longer" rises between the table and the receptacle The stacked lifts on the table 248 are now supported at one end by the pusher 252vand at the opposite end by the abutment 360. The opposite sides of the stack are sup-y.

ported with the, edges of the lifts in alinewardly from the points'adjacent the opposite ends of the guide-bar and are mounted on the rod 400.

In order that the guide-bar 256 may be raised or lowered, the supporting arms 450 are severally connected by means of links 452, which are pivoted to said arms at points above the rod 400, to the upper ends of a pair of substantially vertical arms 454 which i are secured at their lower ends to a rocltshaft 456 that is suitably journaled in bearing's on the upper rear frame member The rock-shaft 456 is actuated by means comprising an arm 458 which is pinned to the rock-shaft and is connected by means of. a link 460 with the rearwardlyextending arm of a cam lever which is fulcrumed in a bracket projecting inwardly from-said frame member 262.. A cam roll 464'carried by the opposite arm of the cam lever 462 is held by the weight. of the guide-bar 256 against theperiphery of a cam 466 which is pinned to the cam shaft The cam 466 operates at each cycle of operations of. the machine to raise the guidc-bar 256 to permit the lateral transferto the receptacle of the staclrof lifts on the table 248 and to lower the guide-bar upon the return to normal 1 ftl t f bl position 0 7 1e ians er ta e and tiansiei bar.

Then the guide-bar is raised the finger 344 whichcarries the traveling end-support 342 andwhich rests. during the advance of 

